341st SFG Airmen pay tribute to veterans during 'ruck march' Nov. 9

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Eydie Sakura
  • 341st Space Wing Public Affairs Office
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  Thirty-nine security forces members marched four miles with 30 pound backpacks, or "rucksacks," in tribute to the veterans who served their country in the armed services. 

Malmstrom's "Remembrance Ruck" took place Nov. 9 with 14 teams competing for first place. The grand prize was bragging rights and the winner's photos and names displayed in the 341st Space Wing headquarters building. 

"There are thousands of veterans who served this country while carrying a rucksack and we want to honor their sacrifice," said 2nd Lt. David Lycan, 341st Missile Security Forces Squadron flight commander. "A ruck march is a training tool to condition the body and mind of warriors in a unit and to prepare them to carry a rucksack when needed." 

In a deployed area of responsibility, a backpack would be worn and filled with the gear and equipment needed to support the person and the mission. 

"Normally a backpack full of gear can weigh nearly 100 pounds," Lieutenant Lycan said. "The 30 pounds used in the competition is not significant in itself, just the weight for this particular competition." 

Ruck marches are historically used to increase morale, generate esprit de corps and foster practical training within the unit. However, this march also had another purpose, and that was to remember the veterans who served their country both past and present. 

Staff Sgt. Joseph Tejada, 341st MSFS Delta flight member, said his four-person team ran together to motivate one another to keep moving forward. 

"We recently had a member of our flight return safely from Baghdad, and we wanted to show our pride we have in our fellow veterans," Sergeant Tejada said. "I personally did it for my grandfather back in Arizona, Jose Tejada, a Korean War veteran. I figured four miles with 30 pounds would be an extremely small sacrifice to go through compared to their sacrifices they had to make when deployed to war." 

The winner of the "Remembrance Ruck" was a three-person team consisting of 1st Lt. Joe Schneider, 741st Missile Security Forces Squadron; Lieutenant Lycan, 341st MSFS; and Airman 1st Class Jeremy Rhodes, 341st MSFS. They finished the four mile course in 39:55.